fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 30 March 2021 16:00

Seaweed to the rescue

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: Researchers at the University of California report an 82% reduction in methane emissions in cows fed small doses of seaweed a day for 21 weeks.

If it proves effective at scale, reductions of this size could offer significant climate benefits.

The new results published last week in the journal PLoS One, builds on work published by other researchers suggesting that adding certain types of seaweed can reduce livestock methane emissions.

In 2018, some of the same researchers behind the new paper recorded reductions of more than 50% among dairy cows after the introduction of a red-coloured seaweed called Asparagopsis taxiformis to their feed.

More like this

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a 'please explain' from her former employer Fonterra.

Red line on dairy

OPINION: As India negotiates to open its borders to more global products, dairy is proving a sticky issue.

Farmland security

OPINION: Paranoia about foreigners is at an all-time high in the US and attention is now turning to foreign-owned farmland.

Cuddling cows

OPINION: Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its cows and instead charge visitors to cuddle them.

Featured

Trial shows benefits of spring nitrogen use

A landmark New Zealand trial has confirmed what many farmers have long suspected - that strategic spring nitrogen use not only boosts pasture growth but delivers measurable gains in lamb growth and ewe condition.

Eric Roy: Championing the pork industry

It was recently announced that former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has stepped down of New Zealand Pork after seven years. Leo Argent talks with Eric about his time at the organisation and what the future may hold.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.